Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 26C by David

Year built	1995
Location of boat	Pascagoula
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	deal
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	yes...she's held up well considering the higher than average use i've put on her.
Gear that's been added	Bow to stern: Anchor rode locker (see post), all lines lead aft, LED light replacements, GPS/Autohelm tiller pilot (worth weight in gold), storage shelf space in lazerette. Interior: additional cabin lights and head, fans, shelf tenders, changed battery to dual w/switch, solar panel charger.
Structural or complex improvements	Anchor rode locker: take out interior v-berth floatation acess panel, move foam either side, add plastic container 10 gal to drip proof, add idustrial velcro to bottom of container and panel, cut/seal/mount 4" deck plate for access. Now you have a rode locker. I hang my bow anchor from a stainless anchor hook on the pulpit.
The boat's best features	simple layout, design, and materials. It's light for trailering, easy setup/take down. Sails well for a water balast boat. LOTS of room below for stuff and sleeping, not for head room...learn to walk on your knees. Cockpit is wide open. She's one of the better looking modern designs out there.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Rudder needs mods to make steerage more responsive; wish it had a better thicker gel coat on it; trailer should have 2 axles and be aluminum or come galvanized from factory (i understand they do that now). Boat can be a little squirrely on the hiway with one axel even in a full size truck. At 15 yrs old she's held up well, but the resin is starting to show through in some spots and lots of gel coat fractures b/c of her flexible deck. Needed thicker layer of gel coat and more even finish. Also, the lightness makes for a rock n role night an all but the calmest of waters. You can let the keel down but it'l drum all night too.
Sailing characterisitcs	Doesn't sail to weather as well as daggerboard or fixed keel model boats b/c of the light front end and bad aspect ratio swing keel. But other than that, just find the right wind and angles and she's sails great! Best shallow water sailboat around. The con of the keel is outweighed by this pro; beaches like a power boat with no worry of damage to swing keel; she's light enough to unground if tide goes out a bit and tacks quickly. Hard to out tack in a race.
Motoring characterisitcs	Motors well and true at around 6-7 without full power on an 8HP. I designed an insulated well cover to mask about 40% of the noise at speed which is great for the long hauls.
Liveability	She's roomy but short...as i said learn to walk on your knees. The head is a backup job but is better than rousing your partner to move so you can raise up the bed. Also, there is no such thing as great ventilation on a boat so be sure and bring plenty of "smelly good" stuff and open hatches to downwind of your party...just good manners. Galley is in an awkward spot therefore my sink has become more of bucket assortment of things.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	very helpful and always able to accomodate.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Dealer was really great! Very helpful, took me on a pre sell sail and then on a fam sail. Went over boat stem to stern and showed me everything. Then answered calls for about 2 mo's on varying issues.
Other comments	It's a great budget boat. Not the strongest, fastest, or roomiest, but all around great bang for your buck.

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